As a diabetes educator/healthcare provider (DHCP) I’m observing that the rapidly growing world of online diabetes social networks is helping people with diabetes (PWD) find and give support and feel supported. People are connecting, building relationships and feeling more positive about their diabetes. I’m delighted to see this trend!

As a DHCP I’ve long realized I can’t walk a mile in a PWD shoes. I can’t know what it is like day in, day out to deal with this challenging and relentless disease. But, what I do know is that we can learn from each other to help shift the dialog between providers and PWD to be more positive and supportive.

In my Dialoging about Diabetes blogs I’ll interview diabetes activists and social networkers. I ask them to offer us DHCPs ways to alter what we do and say to better support your diabetes care efforts and make living your real life…just a bit easier.

I appreciate Diabetes Forecast’s effort at tackling the great carbohydrate debates in: Are Carbs the Enemy? (March 2011). How appropriate! It’s National Nutrition Month with the theme – Eat Right with Color (it’s hard to create a color palate without fruits and vegetables!).

I also appreciate the dual challenges, for people with prediabetes and diabetes, of glucose control and healthy eating. Goals which can often seem at odds.

This is one in a series of book reviews. You may find these books beneficial if you: manage prediabetes or diabetes, follow a diabetes meal plan and/or try to eat healthy to live well. These book reviews also appear on amazon.com. The books can be found in my amazon a-store. Please check them out and consider a purchase.

No Whine with Dinner (don’t you just love that title – it just makes me giggle!) is cookbook number two for the Meal Makeover Moms dietitian duo, Liz Weiss and Janice Bissex. Book one is The Mom’s Guide to Meal Makeovers. This book, actually part cookbook and how-to sensible feeding guide for kids, has Janice and Liz’s energy written all over it – from the front cover to the back page.

This is one in a series of book reviews. You may find these books beneficial if you: manage prediabetes or diabetes, follow a diabetes meal plan and/or try to eat healthy to live well. These book reviews also appear on amazon.com. The books can be found in my amazon a-store. Please check them out and consider a purchase.

Have you been diagnosed with PCOS and are looking for help?

Are you trying to solve the mystery of your infertility?

Are you trying to put the following signs and symptoms together to diagnose your medical problem: irregular or no periods, hair growth in unwanted places, weight gain, above normal blood glucose levels?

On Saturday January 29th 2011, I had the privilege of moderating an extraordinary program – The 1st Annual JDRF Capitol Chapter Type 1 Diabetes Research Summit held in Bethesda, Maryland (at the foothills of National Institutes of Health). What a thrill to introduce these luminaries in type 1 diabetes research. Congrats to the volunteers who amassed these brilliant as well as gracious experts!

On Saturday January 29th 2011, I had the privilege of moderating an extraordinary program – (get ready for the long name) The 1st Annual JDRF Capitol Chapter Type 1 Diabetes Research Summit held in Bethesda, Maryland (at the foothills of National Institutes of Health). What a thrill to introduce these luminaries in type 1 diabetes research. Congrats to the volunteers who amassed these brilliant as well as gracious experts!

At 4’10” (and hitting that age when I’m more likely to spread and shrink), I work hard each and (nearly) every day to keep the needle on the scale pointed at just below 100 pounds. To mark the launch of the next iteration of hopewarshaw.com, I thought I'd reveal my trade secrets to staying fit and trim for a few decades.

Diabetes’ Civil War appeared in the Chicago Tribune late November. I had my eyes out for it because I was interviewed by the author. (My words seem to have ended up on the proverbial cutting room floor. Perhaps because they were way more educational vs. sensational – yes sizzle does sell.)

I’ve been stewing about the article for a couple of months wanting to react but in ways feeling it wasn’t my place because I don’t have diabetes. It’s now time from my vantage point as a diabetes educator.

I was quite taken aback by the anger and venom voiced by several quotees.

Do you eat enough fibers (yes fibers) each and every day? If you’re not eating those five (or more) servings of fruits and vegetables, making at least half your servings of grains whole (grain and wheat) and sneaking in servings of legumes, then it’s doubtful you’re getting your fill of fibers.

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Disclosure Statement

As a reliable, reputable voice in the food and nutrition world, I strive to blog and engage in social media with integrity. In doing so I abide by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Code of Ethics. Any blogs or social media posts that are sponsored or for which I am compensated for my time will be disclosed appropriately.